Fulham got the game underway with over 3,000 travelling fans behind them and from the first minute Kerim Frei’s skill, guile and attacking instinct were on show down Fulham’s left flank.

The game started at a frantic pace with Clint Dempsey picking up the first yellow card of the match after six minutes for a foul on Meireles. Two minutes later the American fired in the first effort of the match, a fierce 25-yard effort that forced Cech into a diving save.

It was certainly a bright start at the Bridge for Jol’s team and captain Murphy, playing just in front of Fulham’s back four, was orchestrating every move in what was, in essence, a quarterback role.

After 14 minutes the game really burst into action when Mousa Dembele bamboozled Terry down Chelsea’s left flank and supplied a perfect cross to Sa at the far post. Sa rose above Luiz but could only send his headed effort over the cross bar.

Chelsea immediately responded with Torres firing in a right footed volley on the turn from 12 yards. Fortunately Stockdale was perfectly positioned to produce a fine save. Seconds later Sturridge fired just wide with a vicious 25-yard strike.

The home side enjoyed a sustained spell of possession after the quarter of an hour mark but offered no serious threat in the final third. Jol’s team were certainly well organised and kept their shape when under pressure.

After 24 minutes Dembele had Chelsea’s defence beaten again, this time creating the space on the 18 yard line to fire in a left footed shot that had Cech beaten all ends up. However Dembele’s shot across goal arrowed past the goalkeeper’s far post.

Sturridge was by far Chelsea’s most potent threat down the right wing during the first half, with a blistering turn of pace matched by several impressive pinpoint crosses. After 30 minutes Sturridge almost found himself on the score sheet after turning Bosingwa’s cross goalwards. Fortunately for Fulham the ball fell wide of Stockdale’s far post.

The game swung between lengthy spells of possession for both teams towards the 40 minute mark but neither side could muster any serious threat on goal, more to the credit of both defences who remained composed and impregnable during the first half.

The tempo of the match dissipated before the break as both teams seemed happy to enter the break on level terms. The home crowd were certainly subdued after a first 45 minutes that had seen Fulham stand toe-to-toe with the home side.

Chelsea were clearly intent on making an immediate impression at the start of the second half, pressing higher up the field with an increased pace to their passing play. It had a telling effect, with Mata forcing the issue barely two minutes after the restart with a strike from 18 yards that earned the home side a 1-0 lead.

Fulham came straight back at Chelsea and their perseverance was rewarded when Clint Dempsey pulled Fulham level inside ten minutes of Mata’s strike. Dempsey’s goal was created by some outstanding play from Ruiz on the right.

Dempsey’s goal brought a fresh injection of belief into Fulham’s play and Martin Jol’s midfield four of Dempsey, Ruiz, Dembele and Frei looked so dangerous on the counter attack.

Andre Villas-Boas made the first tactical change of the game after 61 minutes, replacing Frank Lampard with Florent Malouda. Chelsea’s substitute almost made an immediate impact just four minutes after his introduction, but was denied by the outstanding David Stockdale.

Malouda’s effort came from a Chelsea corner which was the result of a stunning fingertip save from Stockdale to deny Sturridge seconds before Malouda’s effort.

Bosingwa received the second booking of the match after 67 minutes for a cynical, late challenge on Frei 35 yards from goal. Villas-Boas then made his second change of the match, an attacking move that saw Didier Drogba replace Daniel Sturridge with 20 minutes remaining.

The West London derby was all set for a grand finale as both teams looked intent on claiming maximum points. Kerim Frei almost broke through for a wonder goal after 74 minutes. The former Academy graduate picked the ball up in his own half and sprinted forward on a solo run that saw him skip past a host of players in midfied. Frei was only denied at the final hurdle as he almost breached Chelsea's defence for a one on one with Cech.

At the other end substitute Drogba was given a sight of goal after 75 minutes but from the left hand side of the area could only firea left footed strike into Stockdale's arms. The final ten minutes of play saw Chelsea launch a succession of attacks on Fulham's goal but Stockdale was not to beaten twice on Monday.

With four minutes remaining Stockdale denied Chelsea twice in the space of a minute with two stunning fingertip saves before coming to Fulham's rescue again on 89 minutes.

During three minutes of added time Kasami was given a sight of goal as he broke through Chelsea’s defence and on this occasion it was Cech who was forced to make the save. There was still time for Stockdale to deny Chelsea once more before the final whistle.

After last week's heavy defeat to Manchester United, Martin Jol's team delivered the perfect response at Stamford Bridge on Monday and deserved their share of the spoils. This Saturday Fulham will travel Carrow Road for a New Year's Eve encounter with Norwich City.